A few years back, an elderly couple booked tickets to Nine Lessons And Carols For Godless People under the grievous misapprehension that they were in for a more traditional Nine Lessons service (carols, vicars, readings from the gospels and so on). According to organiser Robin Ince, they soon realised their mistake but reasoned that since they'd paid for their tickets, they might as well stick around, and ended up having a very good time. That's an indication of how good these shows are at providing warm-hearted, inclusive entertainment. You might think that the night would be packed with rationalist polemic and fierce denunciations of faith-based community, but you're more likely to find an eclectic mix of thought-provoking performances with a celebratory atmosphere. Among those delivering "lessons" this year are Stewart Lee, his former Fist Of Fun partner Richard Herring, Peep Show star Isy Suttie, and Young Ones great Alexei Sayle, while there's music from (among others) the Divine Comedy's Neil Hannon.

Bloomsbury Theatre, WC1, Sun to Fri. Lineups vary

Chris Ramsey, Liverpool & Cardiff

Chris Ramsey PR

There's not really any getting away from it: Chris Ramsey's a bit of a geezer. With his floppy haircut, tight T-shirt and lairy onstage swagger, you get the feeling that if he wasn't onstage he'd be on the lash with his mates, chucking kebabs about in the street, and wolf-whistling at girls. But while he might seem like any other identikit laddish comic, there's more to Ramsey than meets the eye. He got a rapturous reception at this year's Edinburgh fringe, picking up a Comedy Award nomination. Perhaps his secret is the way he brings subtle, fresh slants to familiar topics, picking on the tedium of round-robin letters or the inanity of Gok Wan, and coaxing new laughs from them. There's also the charm of his unceasingly positive attitude; he may not be the most challenging stand-up on the circuit, but he's certainly one of the most uplifting.

Baby Blue, Liverpool, Sat; The Glee Club, Cardiff, Wed to Fri

No Pressure To Be Festive, London

Miles Jupp PR

It's a Christmas special for this regular night, which pulls off the unlikely trick of matching top-class topical comedy with serious political interviews. The brainchild of musical comic Alistair Barrie and former Drop The Dead Donkey writer and satirical stand-up Nick Revell, it's a seemingly deliberate antidote to the boisterous likes of Mock The Week, allowing for a more considered and in-depth approach to the news while still delivering plenty of laughs. Tonight, thanks to a mightily impressive lineup, comedy will be provided by the always crisply genteel Miles Jupp (pictured) as well as deadpan US stand-up Rich Hall. More weighty contributions are likely to come from the other special guests, including London mayoral candidate Ken Livingstone and the Guardian's own George Monbiot.